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Authors: Orlando Figes

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Letters of a Russian Traveller
Letters
137
Letters
vated Europeans. In his letters Karamzin portrayed himself as perfectly at ease, and accep
vated Europeans. In his letters Karamzin portrayed himself as perfectly at ease, and accep
vated Europeans. In his letters Karamzin portrayed himself as perfectly at ease, and accep
Yet Karamzin also managed to express the insecurity which all the Russians felt in their
Yet Karamzin also managed to express the insecurity which all the Russians felt in their
Yet Karamzin also managed to express the insecurity which all the Russians felt in their
138
to
139
Karamzin’s doubts were shared by many educated Russians as they struggled to define their
Karamzin’s doubts were shared by many educated Russians as they struggled to define their
Karamzin’s doubts were shared by many educated Russians as they struggled to define their
Five years before Karamzin set off on his travels, the writer and civil servant Denis Fon
Five years before Karamzin set off on his travels, the writer and civil servant Denis Fon
Five years before Karamzin set off on his travels, the writer and civil servant Denis Fon
toured the spas of Germany and France looking for a cure for Fonvi-zin’s migraines. On this o
toured the spas of Germany and France looking for a cure for Fonvi-zin’s migraines. On this o
toured the spas of Germany and France looking for a cure for Fonvi-zin’s migraines. On this o
Travel Letters
Fonvizin did not set out as a nationalist. Fluent in several languages, he cut the figure
Fonvizin did not set out as a nationalist. Fluent in several languages, he cut the figure
Fonvizin did not set out as a nationalist. Fluent in several languages, he cut the figure
140
141
‘comme il faut’.
but the actual condition of the ordinary Frenchman was one of slavery - for ‘a poor man ca
but the actual condition of the ordinary Frenchman was one of slavery - for ‘a poor man ca
but the actual condition of the ordinary Frenchman was one of slavery - for ‘a poor man ca
If any of my youthful countrymen with good sense should become indignant over the abuses
If any of my youthful countrymen with good sense should become indignant over the abuses
If any of my youthful countrymen with good sense should become indignant over the abuses
142
The terms Fonvizin used to characterize Europe appeared with extraordinary regularit
The terms Fonvizin used to characterize Europe appeared with extraordinary regularit
The terms Fonvizin used to characterize Europe appeared with extraordinary regularit
Letters from France and Italy
Winter Notes on Summer Impressions
143
144
’simulating emotions and feelings for nature’.145 Even Turgenev, an ardent Westernizer, d
’simulating emotions and feelings for nature’.145 Even Turgenev, an ardent Westernizer, d
’simulating emotions and feelings for nature’.145 Even Turgenev, an ardent Westernizer, d
145
A Nest of Gentlefolk
146
The Russians were uncertain about their place in Europe (they still are), and that ambiv
The Russians were uncertain about their place in Europe (they still are), and that ambiv
The Russians were uncertain about their place in Europe (they still are), and that ambiv
147
7
7
7
7
7
Russia’s idealization of Europe was profoundly shaken by the French Revolution of 1789.
Russia’s idealization of Europe was profoundly shaken by the French Revolution of 1789.
Russia’s idealization of Europe was profoundly shaken by the French Revolution of 1789.
148
149
150
Karamzin’s anguish was widely shared by the European Russians of his age. Brought up to be
Karamzin’s anguish was widely shared by the European Russians of his age. Brought up to be
Karamzin’s anguish was widely shared by the European Russians of his age. Brought up to be
War and Peace)
kvas
haute cuisine
In this search for a new life on ‘Russian principles’ the Enlightenment ideal of a univer
In this search for a new life on ‘Russian principles’ the Enlightenment ideal of a univer
In this search for a new life on ‘Russian principles’ the Enlightenment ideal of a univer
Dashkova; ‘let us remain patriots and retain the character of our ancestors’.151 Karamzi
Dashkova; ‘let us remain patriots and retain the character of our ancestors’.151 Karamzi
Dashkova; ‘let us remain patriots and retain the character of our ancestors’.151 Karamzi
151
152
Our language is capable not only of lofty eloquence, of sonorous descriptive poetry, b
Our language is capable not only of lofty eloquence, of sonorous descriptive poetry, b
Our language is capable not only of lofty eloquence, of sonorous descriptive poetry, b
153
Here was the rallying cry of a new nationalism that flourished in the era of 1812.
Here was the rallying cry of a new nationalism that flourished in the era of 1812.
Here was the rallying cry of a new nationalism that flourished in the era of 1812.
2
2
2
2
2
overleaf: Adolphe Ladurnier: View of the White Hall in the Winter Palace,
overleaf: Adolphe Ladurnier: View of the White Hall in the Winter Palace,
overleaf: Adolphe Ladurnier: View of the White Hall in the Winter Palace,
Adolphe Ladurnier:
St Petersburg, 1838
St Petersburg, 1838
St Petersburg, 1838
1
1
1
1
At the height of Napoleon’s invasion of Russia, in August 1812, Prince Sergei Volkonsky w
At the height of Napoleon’s invasion of Russia, in August 1812, Prince Sergei Volkonsky w
At the height of Napoleon’s invasion of Russia, in August 1812, Prince Sergei Volkonsky w
There were many officers who lost their pride in class but found their countrymen in the ra
There were many officers who lost their pride in class but found their countrymen in the ra
There were many officers who lost their pride in class but found their countrymen in the ra
2
Sergei Volkonsky was born in 1788 into one of Russia’s oldest noble families. The Volkonsky
Sergei Volkonsky was born in 1788 into one of Russia’s oldest noble families. The Volkonsky
Sergei Volkonsky was born in 1788 into one of Russia’s oldest noble families. The Volkonsky
* They shall be referred to here as the Decembrists, even though they did not gain that name
* They shall be referred to here as the Decembrists, even though they did not gain that name
* They shall be referred to here as the Decembrists, even though they did not gain that name
Volkona river, to the south of Moscow, from which the dynasty derived its name.3 As Moscow’s
Volkona river, to the south of Moscow, from which the dynasty derived its name.3 As Moscow’s
Volkona river, to the south of Moscow, from which the dynasty derived its name.3 As Moscow’s
3
4
Sergei himself had practically grown up as an extended member of the Imperial family. He
Sergei himself had practically grown up as an extended member of the Imperial family. He
Sergei himself had practically grown up as an extended member of the Imperial family. He
the serious young man with charming manners and softly spoken views, even though his idol-w
the serious young man with charming manners and softly spoken views, even though his idol-w
the serious young man with charming manners and softly spoken views, even though his idol-w
War and Peace)
5
6
In 1808 Volkonsky returned to the army in the field and, in the course of the next four year
In 1808 Volkonsky returned to the army in the field and, in the course of the next four year
In 1808 Volkonsky returned to the army in the field and, in the course of the next four year
7
He was not alone in entertaining democratic thoughts. Volkonsky’s friend (and fellow Dec
He was not alone in entertaining democratic thoughts. Volkonsky’s friend (and fellow Dec
He was not alone in entertaining democratic thoughts. Volkonsky’s friend (and fellow Dec
Letters of a Russian Officer
8
9
potential for a national liberation and spiritual rebirth. ‘If only we could find a comm
potential for a national liberation and spiritual rebirth. ‘If only we could find a comm
potential for a national liberation and spiritual rebirth. ‘If only we could find a comm
10
Nothing in the background of these officers had prepared them for the shock of this discove
Nothing in the background of these officers had prepared them for the shock of this discove
Nothing in the background of these officers had prepared them for the shock of this discove
11
12
After the war these democratic officers returned to their estates with a new sense of co
After the war these democratic officers returned to their estates with a new sense of co
After the war these democratic officers returned to their estates with a new sense of co
13
ideas of political reform. The benevolence of some of these former officers was extra
ideas of political reform. The benevolence of some of these former officers was extra
ideas of political reform. The benevolence of some of these former officers was extra
14
For some officers it was not enough to identify themselves with the common people’s cause
For some officers it was not enough to identify themselves with the common people’s cause
For some officers it was not enough to identify themselves with the common people’s cause
kaftan,
15
Volkonsky took command of a partisan brigade and pursued Napoleon’s troops as far as Pa
Volkonsky took command of a partisan brigade and pursued Napoleon’s troops as far as Pa
Volkonsky took command of a partisan brigade and pursued Napoleon’s troops as far as Pa
with Napoleon’s escape from Elba obliged him to return to Petersburg.16 None the less,
with Napoleon’s escape from Elba obliged him to return to Petersburg.16 None the less,
with Napoleon’s escape from Elba obliged him to return to Petersburg.16 None the less,
16
The young officers who came back from Europe were virtually unrecognizable to their p
The young officers who came back from Europe were virtually unrecognizable to their p
The young officers who came back from Europe were virtually unrecognizable to their p
17
18
The fashionable circle is no longer in fashion.
The fashionable circle is no longer in fashion.
The fashionable circle is no longer in fashion.
You know, my dear, we’re all free men now.
You know, my dear, we’re all free men now.
You know, my dear, we’re all free men now.
We keep away from society; don’t mingle with the ladies.
We keep away from society; don’t mingle with the ladies.
We keep away from society; don’t mingle with the ladies.
We’ve left them at the mercy of old men,
We’ve left them at the mercy of old men,
We’ve left them at the mercy of old men,
The dear old boys of the eighteenth century.19
The dear old boys of the eighteenth century.19
The dear old boys of the eighteenth century.19
19
Dancing, in particular, was regarded as a waste of time. The men of 1812 wore their swords
Dancing, in particular, was regarded as a waste of time. The men of 1812 wore their swords
Dancing, in particular, was regarded as a waste of time. The men of 1812 wore their swords
part. The salon was rejected as a form of artifice. Young men retreated to their studie
part. The salon was rejected as a form of artifice. Young men retreated to their studie
part. The salon was rejected as a form of artifice. Young men retreated to their studie
War and Peace,
The alienation felt by these young men from their parents’ generation and society was c
The alienation felt by these young men from their parents’ generation and society was c
The alienation felt by these young men from their parents’ generation and society was c
abandon,
20
21
Woe from Wit,
It is hard to overstate the extent to which the Russian cultural renaissance of the nine
It is hard to overstate the extent to which the Russian cultural renaissance of the nine
It is hard to overstate the extent to which the Russian cultural renaissance of the nine
(chinovnik)
(chin).
22
poet Gavril Derzhavin combined his writing with a military career, followed by appoint
poet Gavril Derzhavin combined his writing with a military career, followed by appoint

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